A Public interest litigation (PIL) that is filed in the Delhi High Court has sparked fresh debate on the need to make India’s rape law gender-neutral — an issue that the upcoming film Hi Zindagi also dares to tackle on screen.
Ajay Ram’s film exposes how a man’s voiceless suffering and limited legal remedies illuminate the gaps in statutes and enforcement that fail to recognize male victims, thereby interrogating entrenched biases in the justice system.
The PIL filed in the Delhi High Court on October 29, 2025, urges amendments to Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which currently recognizes only women as rape victims. The matter has been clubbed with W.P. (CRL) 3274/2025, where the court has already issued notice to the Union of India on the inclusion of transgender persons under similar laws. Former Chief Justice U.U. Lalit had also publicly advocated for such inclusivity during a September 2025 address.
Mirroring this real-life legal debate, Hi Zindagi — directed by Ajay Ram and produced by Sunil Kumar Aggarwal — raises the same question through a powerful narrative: “Can men also be victims of sexual violence?” The film portrays a man’s silent suffering and lack of legal remedy, challenging the assumption that only women can be victims.
Sunil Kumar added, “The narrative traces a man’s restrained agony and insufficient legal options, turning the spotlight on the assumption that victimhood is gendered and urging a more inclusive understanding of who deserves protection and remedy.”
Inspired by real-life incidents, Hi Zindagi tackles a sensitive yet rarely discussed subject — the physical and emotional exploitation of men. The film aims to shed light on the need for legal and social recognition of men’s suffering, It emphasises that men, too, deserve safety and equal rights.
Shot in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and starring Gaurav Singh, Garima Singh, Aayushi Tiwari, Somi Shree, Deepanshi, and Rishabh Sharma, Hi Zindagi blends social commentary with emotional drama. The film not only advocates for gender-neutral laws but also offers a deeper reflection on the meaning of life, equality, and coexistence.
